Hardtail to Tune O Matic on a Squier Bullet Mustang.

[TheTrueWalrus]

Hi all, so as I'm sure most of you are aware of the new Squier Bullet Mustangs. I'd love to get one, upgrade it to the bone and make a badass little guitar out of it . However, I'd want to put a Tune O Matic on it, instead of the hardtail, the way Fender does on some of their models. I would like to know whether that wouldn't be too much hassle. I also had an idea of putting a regular mustang tremolo on it, but I think that would be troublesome.
What are your thoughts on the whole thing?

 

[CigBurn]

I say do what makes it work for you, just take your time, be patient and do it well. What anyone else thinks including me is superfluous.

Oh and welcome to the forums!

 

[TheTrueWalrus]

I say do what makes it work for you, just take your time, be patient and do it well. What anyone else thinks including me is superfluous.

Oh and welcome to the forums!

Thanks! I guess you're right, also at the end of the day it's a 150$ guitar, so nothing can really go wrong

 

[jaybones]

I have the same idea on an old Bronco. Want to make it playable (that original vibrato isn't all that useful or stable).

I'd like to do a sort of Mr. Horsepower kind of axe.

Course I'd probably dispense with the chrome headers, the active tach when played (thought a VU meter would be easier and cheaper), and some of the HB would have to be dummies. Otherwise the magnets would pull the strings out of tune too easily.

 

[Dadocaster]

Wraparound tailpiece. It would be the hipster x hipster guitar. I have thought about this for a while.

D

 

[jvin248]

.

Run with it!

Intonate the stock bridge/saddles. Lay tape down both sides of the bridge and mark a line where the saddles sit. Then when you remove the stock bridge and locate the holes for the new bridge you'll be in the right spot. The Tunomatics have less intonation travel than the Fender bridge, so if you are planning on heavier strings when done, be doubly careful when doing intonation and marking before drilling.

..... I can see the desire for a Bigsby some day

.

 

[ryunker]

I just received my new mustang, and found I love it just the way it is, pickups seem quality also.

Just my opinion, but they did this thing right.

 

[Dadocaster]

The information from @jvin248 is something to bear in mind. One of the reason that so many of us sloppy craftsmen can manage to put together successful Strat type guitars is that there is a plentiful amount of travel. Once you get to a tune-o-matic or even worse, a wraparound, you really need to be very close to perfect on your measurements.

D

 

[TheTrueWalrus]

.

Run with it!

Intonate the stock bridge/saddles. Lay tape down both sides of the bridge and mark a line where the saddles sit. Then when you remove the stock bridge and locate the holes for the new bridge you'll be in the right spot. The Tunomatics have less intonation travel than the Fender bridge, so if you are planning on heavier strings when done, be doubly careful when doing intonation and marking before drilling.

..... I can see the desire for a Bigsby some day

.

Thanks so much for the insight! From what you said the whole thing shouldn't be too much trouble, so I think I'm gonna go through with this idea. Heavier strings won't be an issue, I'm all about 9s . And yes... the desire for a Bigsby is definitely strong with me

 

[Guitarmageddon]

I would not ever do this....the Squier Bullet Mustang is 9.5" fretboard radius....

Tune-O-Matic bridges are set for 12" radius....

You're gonna have a bad time with string height and it's a huge project you'd be left with screw holes and have to refinish the entire body @TheTrueWalrus

 

[CigBurn]

Nah it's pretty common, just do your due diligence in making sure you know where you're going and how to get there.

http://www.stewmac.com/How-To/Onlin...une-o-matic_installation_and_set_up_tips.html

 

[Dubble-D]

I would not ever do this....the Squier Bullet Mustang is 9.5" fretboard radius....

Tune-O-Matic bridges are set for 12" radius....

You're gonna have a bad time with string height and it's a huge project you'd be left with screw holes and have to refinish the entire body @TheTrueWalrus

The mustang says it's a 12' I have one that's what Sweetwater says.
Seems to be a great debate some ppl and placed saying it's an even 24' scale some saying it's 24 and a fraction